LSA CODE

Objectives Of LSA Code

• LSA code provides international requirements for the life-saving
appliances that are required by chapter III of the 1974  SOLAS
 Convention, including personal life-saving appliances (for
example, lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and
thermal protective aids), visual aids (parachute flares, hand flares and
buoyant smoke signals), survival craft (liferafts and lifeboats),rescue
boats, launching and embarkation appliances and marine evacuation
systems, line-throwing appliances; and general alarm and public
address systems.
• Purpose of LSA code :
• The purpose of this Code is to provide international standards for life-
saving appliances required by chapter III of the 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974. 2
On and after 1 July 1998, the requirements of this Code will be
mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended.
 LSA CODE CONTENTS
01. Definitions and general 08. Hand flares
requirements for life-saving 09. Buoyant smoke signals 
appliances 
10. Launching and embarkation
02. Lifebuoys and Life-jackets  appliances 
03. Immersion suits, Anti-
11. Marine evacuation systems 
exposure suits and Thermal
protective aids  12. Line-throwing appliances 
04. General requirements for 13. General emergency alarm
lifeboats  system 
05. General requirements for life- 14. Public address system 
rafts  15. IMO Symbols and Safety sign 
06. General requirements for
rescue boats 
07. Rocket parachute flares 
 
 GENERAL For ALL LSA
• be constructed with proper workmanship and materials;
• not be damaged in stowage in temperature range -30°C to +65°C;
• operate throughout the seawater temperature range -1°C to +30°C;
• be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, and not affected by seawater, oil or
fungal attack;
• be of a highly visible color on all parts where this will assist detection;
• be fitted with retro-reflective material where it will assist in detection
• if they are to be used in a seaway, be capable of satisfactory
operation in that environment;
• be clearly marked with approval information including the
Administration which approved it, and any operational restrictions;
• be provided with electrical short circuit protection to prevent damage
or injury.
 
 02. LIFEBUOYS
• Have an outer diameter of 800 mm and an inner diameter 400 mm;
• buoyant material; material or any air compartment which depends on
inflation for buoyancy not permitted;
• 14.5 kg of iron in fresh water for a period of 24hours;
• have a mass of not less than 2.5 kg;
• not sustain burning or continue melting in fire for a period of 2 seconds;
• no damage when dropped 30 m or at height at which it is stowed.
• if it is intended to operate the quick release arrangement provided for
the self-activated smoke signals and self-igniting lights,
• be fitted with a grab line not less than 9.5 mm in diameter and not less
than 4 times the outside diameter of the body of the buoy in length. The
grab line shall be secured at four equidistant points around the
circumference of the buoy to form four equal loops.

 
 Self-igniting lights
• be such that they cannot be
extinguished by water;
• be of white colour and capable of
either burning continuously with a
luminous intensity 2 cd or if flashing
not less than 50-70 flashes per min
• source of energy capable 2 hours;
• drop test 30 m or at height at which it
is stowed.
 Self-activating smoke signals

• Emit smoke of a highly visible color for at least 15 min when

floating in calm water;
• No explosion or flame during the entire smoke emission time
• not be swamped in a seaway;( fill with water )
• continue to emit smoke when fully submerged in water for a
period of at least 10 s;
• drop test 30 m, or at ht which it is stowed

• Buoyant lifelines  

• be non-kinking; have a diameter of not less than 8 mm; and

• have a breaking strength of not less than 5 kN.
 
 Adult Life-jackets
• Shall not sustain burning or continue melting in a fire for a period of 2
seconds.
• Donning time one min without assistance; after demonstration.
• it is clearly capable of being worn either way & comfortable to wear;
• it allows the wearer to jump from a height of at least 4.5 m into the water
without injury
• Buoyancy not reduced by more than 5% after 24h submersion in fresh
water.
• shall be fitted with a whistle firmly secured by a cord
• sufficient buoyancy and stability in calm fresh water to: lift the mouth of an
exhausted or unconscious person not less than 120 mm clear of the water
with the body inclined backwards at an angle of not less than 20° from the
vertical position;
• shall allow the person wearing it to swim a short distance and to board a
survival craft. 
 Life Jackets latest Amendments
• When tested according to the recommendations of the Organization on at least 12
persons, adult lifejackets shall have sufficient buoyancy and stability in calm fresh water
to:
• .1 lift the mouth of exhausted or unconscious persons by an average height of not less
than the average provided by the adult RTD minus 10 mm;
• .2 turn the body of unconscious, face down persons in the water to a position where the
mouth is clear of the water in an average time not exceeding that of the RTD plus 1 s, with
the number of persons not turned by the lifejacket no greater than that of the RTD;
• .3 incline the body backwards from the vertical position for an average torso angle of not
less than that of the RTD minus 10°;
• .4 lift the head above horizontal for an average face plane angle of not less than that of
the RTD minus 10°; and
• .5 return at least as many wearers to a stable face-up position after being destabilized
when floating in the flexed foetal position as with the RTD when tested on the wearers in
the same manner."
• .6 for infants the jump and drop tests shall be exempted;
• .7 for children, five of the nine subjects shall perform the jump and drop tests;
 
• Changes to the LSA Code and SOLAS - requirements for lifejackets
• Amendments to Chapter II of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code come into
effect on July 1, 2010, and introduce the following new requirements for the approval of
lifejackets:
• Each lifejacket shall be fitted with a whistle firmly secured by a lanyard.
• Lifejacket lights and whistles shall be selected and secured to the lifejacket in such a way
that their performance in combination is not degraded.
• Each lifejacket shall be provided with a releasable buoyant line or other means to secure it
to a lifejacket worn by another person in the water.
• Each lifejacket shall be provided with a suitable means to allow a rescuer to lift the wearer
from the water into a survival craft or rescue boat.
• The requirements apply:
• to lifejackets provided on board ships constructed (having their keel laid) on or after July 1,
2010 when providing new lifejackets to vessels with a keel laying date before July 1, 2010.
• New requirements for the carriage of additional equipment, also effective July 1, 2010,
have been introduced under the SOLAS Convention, as follows:
• On all ships where adult lifejackets are not designed to fit persons weighing up to 140 kg
with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, suitable accessories are to be provided that allow the
lifejacket to be secured to such persons.
• All passenger ships are to be provided with lifejackets for "infants".
 CHILD LIFE JACKET
• A child lifejacket : donning assistance is permitted for small
children;
• lift the mouth of an exhausted or unconscious wearer clear of
the water a distance appropriate to the size of the intended
wearer;
• With lifejacket should be able to board a survival craft, but
wearer mobility shall not be significantly reduced.
• approval information including the Administration which
approved it
• child lifejacket shall be marked with:
• the height or weight range for which the lifejacket will meet the
testing and evaluation criteria recommended by the
Organization
• A "child" symbol as shown in the "child's lifejacket“
 Life-jacket light

• have a luminous intensity of not less than

0.75 cd, white colour all round visibility
• Period not less than 8 hrs
 The immersion suit

• it can be unpacked and donned without assistance within

2 min, along with clothing, and a lifejacket;
• sustain burning or continue melting after being totally
enveloped in a fire for a period of 2 seconds;
• it will cover the whole body with the exception of the
face. Hands shall also be covered unless permanently
attached gloves are provided;
• it is provided with arrangements to minimize or reduce
free air in the legs of the suit;
• jump from a height of not less than 4.5 m into the water
no ingress of water into the suit
•  An immersion suit which also complies with the
requirements of life-jackets may be classified as a life-
jacket. In that case it must have a light and whistle.
• to climb up and down a vertical ladder at least 5 m
• to perform to swim a short distance through the water
and board a survival craft. 
• it must be worn in conjunction with warm clothing; and
a lifejacket, the immersion suit continues to provide
sufficient thermal protection, following one jump by
the wearer into the water from a height of 4.5 m, to
ensure that when it is worn for a period of 1h in calm
circulating water at a temperature of 5°C, the wearer's
body core temperature does not fall more than 2°C.
•  A person in fresh water wearing either an immersion
suit or an immersion suit with a lifejacket, shall be able
to turn from a face-down to a face-up position in not
more than 5 seconds.
 Anti-exposure suits

• provides inherent buoyancy

• reduces the risk of heat stress during rescue and evacuation operations;
• covers the whole body with the exception of the head and hands
• gloves and a hood shall be provided
• can be unpacked and donned without assistance within 2 min;
• does not sustain burning or melting after being totally enveloped in a fire
for a period of 2 seconds;
• is equipped with a pocket for a portable VHF telephone;
• has a lateral field of vision of at least 120°.
•  An anti-exposure suit which also complies with the requirements of life-
jackets may be classified as a life-jacket.
•  An anti-exposure suit shall permit the person wearing it:
• to climb up and down a vertical ladder of at least 5 m
• to jump 4.5 m into the water with feet first, without damaging or
dislodging the suit, or being injured;
• to swim through the water 25 m and board a survival craft;
• to don a lifejacket without assistance;
• to perform all duties associated with abandonment, assist
others and operate a rescue boat.
• An anti-exposure suit shall be fitted with a light complying with
the requirements for life jackets.
•  An anti-exposure suit shall: made of inherent insulation, marked
with instructions that it must be worn in conjunction with warm
clothing;
• the suit continues to provide sufficient thermal protection
following one jump into the water at a temperature of 5°C, the
wearer's body core temperature does not fall at a rate of more
than 1.5°C per hour, after the first 0.5 hours.
•  A person in fresh water wearing an anti-exposure suit
complying with the requirements of this section shall be able to
turn from a face- down to a face-up position in not more than 5
seconds.
 Thermal protective aids
• A thermal protective aid be made of waterproof material
thermal conductance of not more than 7800 W/(m2.K) and ,
it shall reduce both the convective and evaporative heat loss
from the wearer's body.  
• cover the whole body of persons of all sizes wearing a
lifejacket with the exception of the face. Hands shall also be
covered unless permanently attached gloves are provided;
• be capable of being unpacked and easily donned without
assistance in a survival craft or rescue boat;
• permit the wearer to remove it in the water in not more
than 2 min, if it impairs ability to swim.
•  The thermal protective aid shall function properly
throughout an air temperature range -30°C to +20°C.
 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFEBOATS
• Ample stability in a seaway and sufficient freeboard when loaded
with their full complement of persons and equipment.
• Rigid hulls and shall be capable of maintaining positive stability
when in an upright position in calm water
•  Each lifeboat shall be fitted with a certificate of approval, endorsed
by the Administration, containing manufacturer's name and address
• lifeboat model and serial number;
• month and year of manufacture;
• number of persons the lifeboat is approved to carry;
• approval from Administration which approved it.
• No lifeboat shall be approved to accommodate more than 150
persons.
 Access into lifeboats
•  Every passenger ship lifeboat shall be so arranged that it can be rapidly boarded
in 3 mins & disembarked rapidly with full complement of persons.
• The lowest step of the ladder shall be not less than 0.4 m below the lifeboat's
light waterline.
• The lifeboat shall be so arranged that helpless people can be brought on board
either from the sea or on stretchers.
• All surfaces on which persons might walk shall have a non-skid finish.
• Lifeboat buoyancy
• All lifeboats shall have inherent buoyancy 280 N of buoyant force per person
•   Every lifeboat shall be powered by a compression ignition engine. Fuel has a
flashpoint of 43°C or less (closed cup test). 
• The engine shall be provided with either a manual starting system, or a power
starting system with two independent rechargeable energy sources. Engine
capable for starting at ambient temperature of -15°C within 2 min of
commencing the start procedure
 Lifeboat fittings

• The speed of a lifeboat 6 knots and at least 2 knots

when towing a 25-person life-raft fully loaded in
calm water
• Sufficient fuel, for a period 24 h.
• Operating instructions for the engine
• All lifeboats except free-fall lifeboats shall be
provided with at least one drain valve with cap &
lanyard fitted near the lowest point in the hull.
•  All lifeboats shall be provided with a rudder and
tiller.
 
• watertight lockers for the storage equipment, water and
provisions.
•  Every lifeboat to be launched by a fall or falls, except a
free-fall lifeboat, shall be fitted with a release
mechanism, which shall be so arranged that all hooks
are released simultaneously.
•  Every lifeboat shall be fitted with a device to secure a
painter near its bow.
• Except for free-fall lifeboats, the painter securing device
shall include a release device to enable the painter to be
released from inside the lifeboat, with the ship making
headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water.
•  Every lifeboat shall be so arranged that an adequate
view forward for steering & safe launching
 Lifeboat equipment
•  1) except for free-fall lifeboats, sufficient buoyant oars to make headway in calm seas.
• 2) two boat-hooks;
• 3) a buoyant bailer and two buckets;
• 4) a survival manual
• 5) magnetic Compass
• 6)a sea-anchor of adequate size fitted with a shock-resistant hawser of adequate strength
• 7)two efficient painters of a length equal to not less than twice the distance from the stowage position of the lifeboat
to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 15 m, whichever is the greater. On lifeboats to be launched by
free-fall launching, both painters shall be stowed near the bow ready for use. On other lifeboats, one painter
attached to the release device required to come together with release mechanism shall be placed at the forward end
of the lifeboat and the other shall be firmly secured at or near the bow of the lifeboat ready for use;
• 8) two hatchets, one at each end of the lifeboat;
• 9) watertight receptacles containing a total of 3 liters of fresh water for each person the lifeboat is permitted to
accommodate, of which either 1 liter per person may be replaced by a desalting apparatus capable of producing an
equal amount of fresh water in 2 days, or 2 liters per person may be replaced by a manually powered reverse osmosis
desalinator capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in 2 days;
• 10) a rustproof dipper with lanyard;
• 11) a rustproof graduated drinking vessel;
• 12) a food ration totalling not less than 10,000 kJ for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate; these
rations shall be kept in airtight packaging and be stowed in a watertight container;
• 13) four rocket parachute flares;
• 14) six hand flares;
• 15) two buoyant smoke signals;
• 16) one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries
and one spare bulb in a waterproof container;
• 17) one daylight signalling mirror with instructions for its use for signalling to ships and aircraft;
• 18) one copy of the life-saving signals kept in waterproof card or in a waterproof container;
• 19) one whistle or equivalent sound signal;
• 20) a first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use;
• 21) anti-seasickness medicine sufficient for at least 48 h and one seasickness bag for each person;
• 22) a jack-knife to be kept attached to the boat by a lanyard;
• 23) three tin openers;
• 24) two buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30 m of buoyant line;
• 25) if the lifeboat is not automatically self-bailing, a manual pump suitable for effective bailing;
• 26) one set of fishing tackle;
• 27) sufficient tools for minor adjustments to the engine and its accessories;
• 28) portable fire-extinguishing equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires [
• 29) a searchlight with a horizontal and vertical sector of at least 6° and a measured luminous intensity
of 2500 cd which can work continuously for not less than 3 h;
• 30) an efficient radar reflector, unless a survival craft radar transponder is stowed in the lifeboat;
• 31) thermal protective aids complying with the requirements of section 2.5 sufficient for 10% of the
number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is the greater;
• 32) in the case of ships engaged on voyages of such a nature and duration that, in the opinion of the
Administration a food ration and fishing tackle are unnecessary, the Administration may allow these
items to be dispensed with.
 Lifeboat markings
• The number of persons for which the lifeboat is
approved shall be clearly marked on it in clear
permanent characters.
• The name and port of registry of the ship to which
the lifeboat belongs shall be marked on each side of
the lifeboat's bow in block capitals of the Roman
alphabet.
• Means of identifying the ship to which the lifeboat
belongs and the number of the lifeboat shall be
marked in such a way that they are visible from
above
 Free-fall lifeboats
• Free-fall lifeboats shall comply with the requirements of totally
enclosed lifeboats described above. The carrying capacity of a
free-fall lifeboat is the number of persons that can be provided
with a seat of 430mm. The backrest shall extend at least 1,000
mm above the seat pan.
•  Each free-fall lifeboat shall make positive headway immediately
after water entry and shall not come into contact with the ship
after a free-fall launching against a trim of up to 10° and a list of
up to 20° either way from the certification height when fully
equipped and loaded withits full complement of persons;
• Each free-fall lifeboat shall be of sufficient strength to
withstand, when loaded with its full complement of persons and
equipment, a free-fall launch from a height of at least 1.3 times
the free-fall certification height. 
• Each free-fall lifeboat shall be fitted with a release system which shall:
• have two independent activation systems for the release mechanisms
which may only be operated from inside the lifeboat and be marked in a
color that contrasts with its surroundings;
• be so arranged as to release the boat under any condition of loading
from no load up to at least 200% of the normal load caused by the fully
equipped lifeboat when loaded with the number of persons for which it
is to be approved;
• be adequately protected against accidental or premature use;
• be designed to test the release system without launching the lifeboat;
• be designed with a factor of safety of 6 based on the ultimate strength
of the materials used.
• In addition to the requirements for fully enclosed lifeboat certificate of
approval for a free-fall lifeboat shall also state:
• free-fall certification height;
• required launching ramp length; and
• launching ramp angle for the free-fall certification height.
 Liferaft
• Every liferaft shall be so constructed as to be capable of withstanding exposure
for 30 days afloat in all sea conditions. 
• The liferaft shall be so constructed that when it is dropped into the water from
a height of 18 m, the liferaft and its equipment will operate satisfactorily. If
stowed at a greater height than 18m drop tested to that height..
•  The floating liferaft shall be capable of withstanding repeated jumps on to it
from a height of at least 4.5 m above its floor both with and without the
canopy erected.
•  The liferaft and its fittings shall be so constructed as to enable it to be towed
at a speed of 3 knots in calm water with one of its sea-anchors streamed.
• The liferaft shall have a canopy.  
• Minimum Carrying capacity of life raft six persons
•  Enclosed liferaft weight withcontainer and its equipment shall not be more
than 185 kg.
•  The liferaft shall be fitted with an efficient painter of length equal to not less
than 10 m plus the distance from the stowed position to the waterline in the
lightest seagoing condition or 15 m whichever is the greater. 
 Davit-launched liferafts
•  In addition to liferaft requirements danit launched liferafts is capable of
withstanding a lateral impact against the ship's side at an impact velocity of
not less than 3.5 m/s and also a drop into the water from a height of not less
than 3 m without damage
• be provided with means for bringing the liferaft alongside the embarkation
deck and holding it securely during embarkation.
•  Every passenger ship davit-launched liferaft shall be so arranged that it can be
rapidly boarded by its full complement of persons.
•  Every cargo ship davit-launched liferaft shall be boarded by its full
complement of persons in not more than 3 min.
•  The marking required on liferafts shall be as per "SOLAS A PACK" in block
capitals of the Roman alphabet.
•  The liferaft painter system shall provide a connection between the ship and
the liferaft and shall be so arranged as to ensure that the liferaft when
released and, in the case of an inflatable liferaft, inflated is not dragged under
by the sinking ship.
•  If a weak link is used in the float-free arrangement, breaking strength 2.2 ±
0.4 kN. 
• The liferaft shall be packed in a container that is:so constructed as to
withstand hard wear under conditions encountered at sea;
• of sufficient inherent buoyancy, when packed with the liferaft and its
equipment, to pull the painter from within and to operate the
inflation mechanism should the ship sink;
• as far as practicable watertight, except for drain holes in the
container bottom.
•  The container shall be marked with:
• maker's name or trade mark; serial number; name of approving
authority and the number of persons it is permitted to carry;
• type of emergency pack enclosed;
• date when last serviced;
• length of painter;
• maximum permitted height of stowage above waterline (depending
on drop-test height and length of painter);launching instructions.
 RESCUE BOATS
•  Rescue boats may be either of rigid or inflated construction be not less than
3.8 m and not more than 8.5m in length; and be capable of carrying at least
five and a person lying on a stretcher.
•  Rescue boats shall be capable of manoeuvring at a speed of at least 6 knots
and maintaining that speed for a period of at least 4 hours.
•  Rescue boats shall have sufficient mobility and maneuverability in a seaway
to enable persons to be retrieved from the water, marshal life rafts and tow
the largest liferaft carried on the ship when loaded with its full complement
of persons and equipment or its equivalent at a speed of at least 2 knots.
•  A rescue boat shall be fitted with an inboard engine or outboard motor. If it
is fitted with an outboard motor, the rudder and tiller may form part of the
engine.
•  Arrangements for towing shall be permanently fitted in rescue boats and
shall be sufficiently strong to marshal or tow liferafts.
 ROCKET PARACHUTE FLARES / HAND FLARES
• Be contained in a water-resistant casing;
•  have brief instructions or diagrams
• no discomfort to the person holding the casing .
•  The rocket shall, when fired vertically, reach an altitude of not less than
300 m. At or near the top of its trajectory, the rocket shall eject a
parachute flare, which shall:
• burn with a bright red color;
• burn uniformly with an average luminous intensity of not less than
30,000 cd;
• have a burning period of not less than 40 s;
• have a rate of descent of not more than 5 m/s; and
• not damage its parachute or attachments while burning.
•  under 100 mm of water.  
• HAND FLARES
•  Be contained in a water-resistant casing;
• have brief instructions or diagrams for use
• have a self-contained means of ignition;
• no discomfort to the person holding the casing
• burn with a bright red colour;
• burn uniformly with an average luminous
intensity of not less than 15,000 cd;
• have a burning period of not less than 1 min;
and continue to burn after having been
immersed for a period of 10s
BUOYANT SMOKE SIGNALS
•  water-resistant casing;
• not ignite explosively
• emit smoke of a highly visible color & not less
than 3 min when floating in calm water;
• no flame
• not be swamped in a seaway;
• continue to emit smoke when submerged in
water for a period of 10 s under 100 mm of
water.  
 Inflated rescue boats
• constructed as to be capable of withstanding exposure on
vessel for 30 days afloat in all sea conditions.
•  The buoyancy of an inflated rescue boat shall be provided
by either a single tube subdivided into at least five separate
compartments of approximately equal volume or two
separate tubes neither exceeding 60% of the total volume.
•  In addition to complying with the requirements lifeboats,
inflated rescue boats shall be marked with a serial number,
the maker's name or trade mark and the date of
manufacture.
•  The inflated rescue boat shall be maintained at all times in
a fully inflated condition.
 
 LT APPARATUS / GENERAL ALARM

• Every line-throwing appliance shall:

• be capable of throwing a line with reasonable
accuracy;
• carrying the line at least 230 m in calm weather;
• breaking strength of not less than 2 kN;
• clearly illustrating for use
• The rocket, in the case of a pistol-fired rocket, or
the assembly, in the case of an integral rocket
and line, shall be contained in a water- resistant
casing.
 GENERAL EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM
•  The general emergency alarm system shall be electrically operated
bell powered from the ship's main supply and the emergency
source of electrical power
•  Operation from the navigation bridge and also from other strategic
points.
• Audible throughout all the accommodation and normal crew
working spaces.
• The alarm shall continue to function after it has been triggered until
it is manually turned off or is temporarily interrupted by a message
on the public address system.
• The minimum sound pressure levels for the emergency alarm tone
in interior and exterior spaces shall be 80 dB (A) he sound pressure
levels at the sleeping position in cabins and in cabin bathrooms
shall be at least 75 dB (A) at least 10 dB at ambient noise levels.
 
 LSA CODE AMENDMENTS
• The latest amendment to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code will require
that by 2017, all non-commercial ships operating in polar waters possess enough
immersion suits on board for all passengers and crew. Prior to the establishment of
this Polar Code, non-commercial ships were only required to stock immersion suits
for crew members.
• Additional regulations set forth by the IMO and the International Life-Saving
Appliance Code state that all immersion suits and associated life-saving appliances
comply as follows:
• DONNING
• Immersion suits and life-saving appliances must be don-able without assistance or
support from another individual or inanimate object.
• Complete donning must be achievable in 2 minutes or less, unhindered by
temperatures as low as -30° C.
• FIELD OF VISION
• Immersion suits and life-saving appliances must provide at least a 120° field of
vision (60° to both sides of the victims straight-ahead line of sight).
• Suits and appliances must enable full capacity to move head up and down to
observe subjections directly above or below the victim.
• MOBILITY
• Immersion suits and life-saving appliances must allow for walking at a rate of
at least 1.25 times a victim’s normal gait on wet surfaces (up to 30-meters)
without slips and falls.
• Swimming up to 25 meters.
• Emerging from a body of water into a life raft within 30 seconds without
assistance from an individual, inanimate object or footing.
• Climbing up and down a 5-meter vertical ladder.
• Bending and movement of arms without constraint. 
• BUOYANCY
• Immersion suits and life-saving appliances must provide stable flotation in a
face-up position with at least 120 millimeters of space between the victims
mouth and contact with water.
• Self-right from a face down position within 5 seconds once immersed in the
water.
• Allow transfer from face down floating to face up floating within 5 seconds.
IMPACT
• Immersion suits and life saving appliances must endure water impact from jumps up
to 4.5 meters (feet first) without harm to the suit or wearer, including dislodgment,
tears, seam separations or any other discrepancy that may decrease the suit’s
integrity. Victims must also be able to stabilize a face up floating position after
impact.
• Water ingress into the immersion suit may not exceed a mass of 500 grams during
impact from heights up to 4.5 meters.
THERMAL PROTECTION
• Immersion suits must protect against the affects of hypothermia for at least 6 hours
in water temperatures between zero and 2° C without a drop in core body
temperature of 2° C or more.
• Dexterity must remain unimpaired after 1 hour of immersion in water at 5° C.
• No more than a 200-gram ingress of water may enter the suit after 1 hour of flotation
in calm water or 20 minutes of swimming at a distance of at least 200 meters.
FLAME RESISTANCE
• Immersion suits and life-saving appliances must be capable of withstanding 2 seconds
of complete flame coverage without sustaining burns or continued melting. 
 SOLAS REQUIREMENT FOR TRANING MANUAL
• This regulation applies to all ships.
• A training manual complying with the requirements shall be provided in each
crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin.
•The training manual, which may comprise several volumes, shall contain instructions and
information, in easily understood terms illustrated wherever possible, on the life-saving
appliances provided in the ship and on the best methods of survival. Any part of such
information may be provided in the form of audio-visual aids in lieu of the manual. The
following shall be explained in detail :
• donning of lifejackets, immersion suits and anti-exposure suits, as appropriate ;
•muster at the assigned stations ;
•boarding, launching, and clearing the survival craft and rescue boats, including, wheren
applicable, use of marine evacuation systems ;
•method of launching from within the survival craft ;
•release from launching appliances ;
• methods and use of devices for protection in launching areas, where appropriate ;

 
• illumination in launching areas ;
• use of all survival equipment ;
• use of all detection equipment with the assistance of illustrations, the use
of radio life-saving appliances ;
• use of drogues ;
• use of engine and accessories ;
• recovery of survival craft and rescue boats including stowage and securing ;
• hazards of exposure and the need for warm clothing ;
• best use of the survival craft facilities in order to survive ;
• methods of retrieval, including the use of helicopter rescue gear (slings,
baskets, stretchers),
• breeches-buoy and shore life-saving apparatus and ship's line-throwing
apparatus ;
• all other functions contained in the muster list and emergency
instructions ; and
• instructions for emergency repair of the life-saving appliances.
• Every ship fitted with a marine evacuation system shall be provided with
on-board training aids in the use of the system.
 SOLAS Instructions for on-board maintenance

• Instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving

appliances shall be easily understood, illustrated
• wherever possible, and, as appropriate, shall include the
following for each appliance :
• a checklist for use when carrying out the inspections
• maintenance and repair instructions ;
• schedule of periodic maintenance ;
• diagram of lubrication points with the recommended
lubricants ;
• list of replaceable parts ;
• list of sources of spare parts ; and
• log for records of inspections and maintenance. 
 Question from MMD

• What are the LSA code requirements regarding marking of inflatable

lifeboats and life rafts ?
• With reference to SOLAS , list the basic familiarisation training u give to a
joining cadet?
• When conducting a safety drill, what points will u consider to make it
more effective?
• Describe the purpose and contents of the training manual and “
instructions for on Board maintenance “ of LS appliances as per CH III of
SOLAS?
• What are the LSA code requirements in relation with construction,
stability & markings of inflatable life rafts?
• Prepare a PMS for your rescue boat?
• As per SOLAS what are the general requirements of immersion suit and
Anti exposure suit?
• B) What are the advantages of conducting drills on board? Draw an
annual drill planner which are done on board?
• Describe the operational readiness ,
maintenance and inspection requirements of
Life saving appliances as per SOLAS Chapter III?
• With reference to SOLAS, list the on board
training and instructions you should give to each
crew member with model training schedule.
• Prepare an emergency Muster List for a ship
with a total complement of 21 ( 4 deck officers
including Master, 4 engs,electrican,5 deck
ratings, 3 engine ratings, 2 catering ratings,
1deck and 1 engine cadet).